Twenty Two

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"the best way to predict the future is to invent it."
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Kayden turns around and he is back to having a frown on his face.

"Why do you have that look on your face?" I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

"You're not racing." He stated as he looked down at me.

"It's not really your choice Kayden."

"Whose car are you even going to use?"

"Willows?" I said but it sounded more like a question.

"Willow has Range Rover and I doubt that you can race that car on these tracks," Kayden said which made a point.

I should have thought before jumping the gun. But I am excited that I going to race. I miss racing and even though I have done it in a while I feel confident in knowing what I am doing.

"I am pretty sure it a good car to race." I reason but I know for a fact I am wrong.

Kayden bits his lip and he takes my hand. "Follow me," Kayden said and he pulled me towards the tracks where I see his car parked. I feel a rush of adrenaline as I walk closer to his car while seeing all of the different car's race. "One, keep your eyes on the road at all times. Make sure that you don't take your eyes off the road."

I look at Kayden and feel myself smile. "Are you saying I can race your car?"

"When turning makes sure to look into it at first."

"Does this mean I am racing your car?" I asked while smiling wide.

"And I repeat, do not crash my car. Be careful with the breaks and the gas. Even a little bit of pressure on the gas pedal will make it go fast."

"I think this means I'm racing your car," I said before going towards him and hug him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," I said while hugging him and he wraps his arms around me hesitantly.

"Just don't die, please." He said but in a serious, non-joking way.

"I won't I swear," I said and let go of him. I walk to the driver's side of the car while Kayden walks to the passenger seat. "You're not going to wait with the others?" I asked him once he sat inside the car.

"No. Text them to meet on the tracks and to watch the race," Kayden said and did before putting my phone away and starting the car.

"Wow," I whispered to myself as I watched the car come to life. "Why are you letting me race your car?" I looked at Kayden.

"I saw how much you wanted to race and for some odd reason I trust you with my car."

I smile and nip at my lip. "Thank you. You have no clue how much this means to me."

Kayden gives me a soft smile and I pull the car over to where the starting line was. Robin's car pulls up to Kayden's car and he rolls his window down, but I don't roll mine up.

"Robin likes to play dirty. He is going to try and get closer to you to pretend he is going to hit you, but he won't. He also is going to go fast right when the flag goes down so when he does don't feel stressed when he is in front of you."

"Okay. Got it. Anything else?"

"I'll walk you through all of the turns and what you will face during the race. Just relax and remember what I said about the gas pedal. Gentle."

"Okay. I can handle it." I nodded my head and look in front of me and see a girl wearing very short shorts and a pink bralette.

She raises one flag.

I put my hand on the gears stick and the other hand on the wheel.

She puts one of the flags down and Robin presses his gas making the car roar.

Once he puts the flag down, I switch the gear and press on the gas making it start the car and race down the long, clear road. Kayden isn't wrong about Robin being in front of me, but it wasn't a dangerous distance.

The road was a little bumpy but that's because it's a dirt road and it has some small rocks on the ground.

"There's a turn coming on your left," Kayden said as he sat on the edge of his seat and once, I see the turn coming, I turn my wheel a little. "Good," Kayden whispered. I look around the road and see that I was now in front of Robin. I press the gas a little harder when a straight road comes ahead making the car go even faster. "Watch out for the turn Alexis," Kayden said in a scared tone.

A turn comes up and I feel myself start to smile.

This is where Jack would most likely say, "The trick during the turns is to play chicken with yourself. How brave can you be? How hard are you willing to hang on?" if he was in the car with me.

I bit my lower lip lightly and make a turn, remembering what Jack taught about turning with a high-speed limit.

It's all about tire friction.

In-car racing, it's that little dance between you and the tire that's the difference between winning and losing.

"Jesus." I heard Kayden say but I don't look at him. "Okay, there is one more turn, and you're done." I see Kayden, from the corner of my eye as he turns his head to look behind us. I look in the windshield and see Robin very close to hitting the bumper. "He is getting closer. This is where is going to take you out and make you go behind him."

I feel a wave of adrenaline go through me as I think about doing what Jack taught me when I first got in a car race with him.

"Whenever someone is behind you Bambi, you got to press the gas a little harder. They are trying to sike you out and you want to be smarter than that. They are thinking that what they are doing is dangerous and will make you want to play their game but in reality, you need to go faster, not stop, don't focus on the person behind. Focus on the finish line and what's ahead. Your mind needs to be blank."

I press the gas harder and I could tell Kayden was getting worried because he kept looking behind me for Robin while looking straight.

"This is the turn so slow down," Kayden says and I do the complete opposite. I turn the car and get my foot off the gas while doing so making the car spin of the sharp turn. "Alexis," Kayden said in a warning tone but I didn't listen.

Block everything out.

Mind is blank.

Once the turn was over, I straighten out the car and press the gas hard as I see the finish line ahead.

I hear a car roar next to me and I don't turn my head, but I do press the gas pedal harder.

"Don't make eye contact with the racer next to you. That's what they want you to do. You got to play their game better."

As I see the finish line getting closer, I press the gas hard and finally I pass the line with Robin a little bit behind me.

I take my foot off the gas and press the brake a little to make the car slow down.

I look at Kayden and see him with furrowed eyebrows staring at me. "Told you I could handle it," I said while trying to control my breathing a little bit.

I see Kayden's lips lift a little and he shakes his head lightly.


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